120 Words Every 9th Grader Should Know: List 1

Learn these essential words that you'll encounter in literature, textbooks, class discussions, and more.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
    His father had abhorred waste of any kind, to the point where he complained to Ashima if a kettle had been filled with too much water. The Namesake
  2. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
    Finally, an awareness of syntax can help you avoid ambiguous, confusing, and convoluted sentences. The Sense of Style
  3. appalled
    struck with dread, shock, or dismay
    I am appalled by the extremely poor taste and unseemly behavior of your daughter and her friends. Al Capone Does My Shirts
  4. besiege
    surround so as to force to give up
    So now at last the City was besieged, enclosed in a ring of foes. The Return of the King
  5. comprehensive
    including all or everything
    While long and detailed, the book wasn’t comprehensive. Votes for Women!
  6. conviction
    an unshakable belief in something without need for proof
    “It has to work,” I said, trying to put conviction and confidence into my words. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
  7. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    His peaceful demeanor was helping her calm down a bit. Fablehaven
  8. diligent
    characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks
    I’m diligent and hard-working; I enjoy making my bosses happy with my efforts. Washington Post (May 16, 2017)
  9. elude
    escape, either physically or mentally
    Animal control officials said another coyote was spotted in the same part of the city around the same time but it eluded capture. Seattle Times (Jan 19, 2020)
  10. exacerbate
    make worse
    I’m frightened, but I’m not sure what I’m afraid of, which just exacerbates the fear. The Girl on the Train
  11. fortitude
    strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity
    “Class,” she says, “today’s vocabulary word is fortitude. ‘Strength to endure.’” Ninth Ward
  12. implication
    a meaning that is not expressly stated but can be inferred
    The implication, although not expressed in so many words, was that we had already mastered the piano and were now branching out along other musical avenues. Cheaper by the Dozen
  13. insidious
    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
    Harsh judgment and malicious gossip are insidious and destructive to relationships. Washington Post (Jan 24, 2021)
  14. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    The other boy was trying to sound nonchalant, but his voice trembled. The Bridge Home
  15. oblivion
    the state of being disregarded or forgotten
    No one tended the garden, either to water it or to weed it, until it was swallowed up by oblivion, birds, and wild grasses. The House of the Spirits: A Novel
  16. proficient
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
    Prince began playing piano at age 7 and soon became proficient on other instruments, including guitar, saxophone and drums. Washington Post (Apr 21, 2016)
  17. rectify
    set straight or right
    "Today is about making some positive steps forward, and rectifying a mistake." BBC (Oct 18, 2021)
  18. retort
    a quick reply to a question or remark
    He had his mouth set to argue, but I didn’t wait for a retort. Jacob Have I Loved
  19. speculative
    not based on fact or investigation
    This is where other scientists say the study gets too speculative. Science Magazine (Feb 18, 2021)
  20. sporadic
    recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances
    A lack of truck drivers has also caused sporadic shortages for staples including eggs, milk and baked goods. New York Times (Oct 4, 2021)
Created on Wed Oct 27 12:06:08 EDT 2021 (updated Thu Nov 04 11:42:38 EDT 2021)

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